Dual receptacle carrier
Disclosed is a dual-receptacle carrier that is generally configured for attachment to a rollator or walker and that is configured to retain either a beverage or a mobile device, such as a cellular telephone. The device comprises a body, a base, and first and second opposing retention arm portions that are configured as a receptacle for a beverage. The first and second opposing retention arm portions and base include recesses that define a receptacle for an electronic device.
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This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/037,779, filed Jul. 17, 2018, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/537,817, filed Jul. 27, 2017, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
BACKGROUNDWalkers, rollators, and other mobility-assisting devices are commonly used by the elderly and by others with limited physical mobility. It is known to provide various accessories for such mobility-assisting devices. For instance, the prior art has provided accessories such as seats and cup holders.
Now, a dual-receptacle carrier has been devised, the carrier being attachable to a mobility-assisting device such as a walker or rollator and being equipped to retain either a beverage or a mobile device, such as a cellular telephone. Generally, the carrier comprises a body having a base, an extension, and first and second opposing retention arms or arm portions that cooperate with the base to form a beverage receptacle. The arm portions are each provided with an arm portion recess and the base portion is provided with a base recess, these recesses cooperating to form a receptacle for an electronics device. The body is generally pivotable relative to a mounting bracket to enable the user to adjust the operating angle of the device. Desirably, the device is equipped with a quick-release mechanism to allow the user to adjust the position of the device along a tube structure of a walker or rollator.
With reference now to
With further reference to
The carrier includes a bracket 30 for mounting to a tubular frame portion 31 of the rollator 32 as shown in
The body may be pivoted with respect to the bracket to allow the user to adjust the angle of the body portion. The pivoting mechanism is best explained with respect to
As shown in
In an alternative embodiment, the quick release mechanism 60 shown in
With reference now to the carrier 110 shown in
When engaged, the quick release mechanism secures the first and second bracket portions 165, 167 to one another to thereby frictionally secure the carrier to the tubular frame of the mobility-assisting device. When disengaged, the quick-release mechanism permits attachment or removal of the carrier, and also permits adjustment of the axial position of the carrier on the tubular frame portion.
With reference now to
As illustrated, the recesses in the arm portions are generally axially aligned with the recess in the base. In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the recesses in the arm portions may be slightly rearwardly offset relative to the base surface and angled at a slight oblique angle. This will result in carriage of a retained electronic device at an angle, such that the device may be carried generally facing upwardly with the screen of the device pointed towards the user's eyes. In this configuration, the base may be oriented to be level with respect to the ground, such that a beverage will be retained in an upright position even though the device will be in a more user-readable position.
The carrier may be made of any suitable material, such as polypropylene.
It is therefore seen that the foregoing teachings provide a dual-receptacle carrier that can accommodate both a beverage and a cellular telephone or other electronic device. The carrier can be used on a conventional walker or rollator, or other mobility-assisting device.
Uses of singular terms such as “a,” “an,” are intended to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms. Any description of certain embodiments as “preferred” embodiments, and other recitation of embodiments, features, or ranges as being preferred, or suggestion that such are preferred, is not deemed to be limiting. The invention is deemed to encompass embodiments that are presently deemed to be less preferred and that may be described herein as such. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended to illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention. Any statement herein as to the nature or benefits of the invention or of the preferred embodiments is not intended to be limiting. This invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited herein as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The description herein of any reference or patent, even if identified as “prior,” is not intended to constitute a concession that such reference or patent is available as prior art against the present invention. No unclaimed language should be deemed to limit the invention in scope. Any statements or suggestions herein that certain features constitute a component of the claimed invention are not intended to be limiting unless reflected in the appended claims. Neither the marking of the patent number on any product nor the identification of the patent number in connection with any service should be deemed a representation that all embodiments described herein are incorporated into such product or service.
Claims
1. A carrier device comprising:
- a body having a base and an extension portion, the base including a base recess extending therein; and
- first and second curved opposing retention arms connected to the extension portion and spaced apart at distal ends thereof, the first and second retention arms cooperating with the base to define a first receptacle, the first retention arm including a first recess, the second retention arm including a second recess aligned with the first recess along a first axis, the first and second recesses aligned with the base recess along a second axis different from the first axis such that the first recess, the second recess, and the base recess define a second receptacle, wherein the base includes a planar floor for supporting an object thereon, and wherein the base recess includes an arcuate trough that extends below the planar floor.
2. The carrier device of claim 1, further comprising a mounting bracket connected to the body.
3. A mobility device comprising a user-supporting frame having at least one user-gripping portion, the user-supporting frame including at least one tubular section, and, mounted to the tubular section, the carrier device of claim 1.
4. The carrier device of claim 1 wherein the trough is an elongated trough that spans an inner diameter of the base.
5. The carrier device of claim 1 wherein the base recess includes at least one aperture extending therethrough.
6. The carrier device of claim 1 wherein the first and second retention arms are resilient first and second retention arms configured to be biased outwardly.
7. The carrier device of claim 1 wherein the first and second recesses form discontinuities in curvatures of the first and second retention arms.
8. The carrier device of claim 1 wherein the first retention arm forms a first concave recess, and wherein the first recess forms a second concave recess within the first concave recess.
9. The carrier device of claim 1 wherein the base further comprises opposing base cutouts aligned with the base recess.
10. A carrier device comprising:
- a body having a base and an extension portion;
- first and second curved opposing retention arms connected to the extension portion and opposing the base, the retention arms cooperating with the base to define a beverage receptacle;
- a first arcuate indentation formed in the first retention arm and a second arcuate indentation formed in the second retention arm, the first and second arcuate indentations forming a slot; and
- opposing base indentations formed in an upper rim of the base, the slot and the opposing base indentations aligning and cooperating to form a device receptacle.
11. The carrier device of claim 10 wherein the first and second retention arms are each connected to the extension portion at one end and not connected to each other at the opposite end.
12. The carrier device of claim 10, further comprising a tubular mounting bracket.
13. The carrier device of claim 12, further comprising a pivoting mechanism enabling the body to pivot with respect to the mounting bracket.
14. The carrier device of claim 13 wherein the pivoting mechanism comprises a shaft coupler, the shaft coupler having a base end rotatably mounted with respect to the mounting bracket and a body mounting region, the body mounting region cooperating with a coupler mounting region disposed on the body.
15. The carrier device of claim 14 wherein one of the body mounting region and the coupler mounting region includes a plug portion and the other of the body mounting region and the coupler mounting region comprises a socket portion, the plug portion cooperating with the socket portion for fixing the body relative to the shaft coupler.
16. The carrier device of claim 14 wherein one of the mounting bracket and the shaft coupler includes plural splines and the other of the mounting bracket and the shaft coupler includes plural indexing nubs thereby permitting indexed rotation of the shaft coupler relative to the mounting bracket, the device including a spring normally biasing the indexing nubs and splines into an engaged position.
17. The carrier device of claim 10, further comprising a quick-release mechanism for attachment of the body to a tubular frame.
18. The carrier device of claim 10 wherein the first and second indentations form discontinuities in curvatures of the first and second retention arms.
19. A mobility device comprising a user-supporting frame having at least one user-gripping portion, the frame including at least one tubular section, and, mounted to the tubular section, the carrier device of claim 10.
20. A carrier device comprising:
- a body having a base and an extension portion; and
- first and second curved opposing retention arms connected to the extension portion and opposing the base, the retention arms having a discontinuous inner surface and discontinuous outer surface, the discontinuous inner surfaces cooperating to form a slot therebetween;
- the base including an upstanding outer rim, opposing planar floors extending from the upstanding outer rim, and a base recess between the opposing planar floors and extending below the opposing planar floors.
21. The carrier device of claim 20 wherein the first and second curved opposing retention arms have a first radius, and wherein the discontinuous inner surfaces include are arcuate surfaces having a second radius different than the first radius.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Feb 5, 2020
Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
Patent Publication Number: 20200170875
Assignee: Medline Industries, Inc. (Northfield, IL)
Inventors: Todd Brockway (Vernon Hills, IL), Emily Berman (Park Ridge, IL), Caren Wax (Deerfield, IL), Tambra Martin (Trevor, WI), William Elliott Brooks (Chicago, IL), Robert W. Sheldon (Winnetka, IL), Gregory J. Foster (Chicago, IL)
Primary Examiner: Adam J Waggenspack
Application Number: 16/782,451
International Classification: B62B 3/14 (20060101); A61H 3/00 (20060101); A61H 1/00 (20060101);